Fragment of an "Amarna Letter"

1350 BC - 1340 BC
Clay
Tell el-Amarna
6.8 cm x 5.6 cm x 2.3 cm
E9356

Oriental Institute Museum

Artifact Description

Fragment of an "Amarna Letter"

This is a fragment of a clay tablet containing a letter (written in Akkadian) that was found at Tell el-Amarna, Egypt. Like many of the so-called "Amarna Letters," this document concerns the exchange of valuable gifts. It was sent from King Tushratta of Mitanni to Queen Tiy, widow of Amenhotep III of Egypt. In it, the king complains that statues sent to him by the queen's son were not of solid gold, as had been promised, but were made only of wood overlaid with gold. Similar letters were sent to Egypt from the kings of Assyria and Babylonia.

Multimedia

Life in Ancient Mesopotamia
What was life like in ancient Mesopotamia? Find out in this video featuring Oriental Institute Assyriologist Dr. Martha Roth.

An Early Clay Tablet
See how this early clay tablet used pictures to communicate.

Suggested Readings

Hunter, Erica. First Civilizations: Cultural Atlas for Young People. New York: Facts on File, 1994.

Kramer, Samuel Noah. Cradle of Civilization. Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books, 1967.

Roaf, Michael. Cultural Atlas of Mesopotamia and the Ancient Near East. New York: Facts on File, 1990.

View related artifacts